An Encourager

We’ve been looking at the New Testament through the eyes of the human beings who contributed to its writing.  We’ve looked at a fisherman, a tax collector, a beloved, a Pharisee, and brothers of Jesus.  Today we will return to the Pharisee, Saul, who changed his theology to included Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 9:22 NIV)

He had been stopped by Jesus on the road to Damascus.  He was threatening Christians, throwing them in Jail, and approving of their execution following the Law.  Now, he was just as passionately teaching that Jesus is the Messiah.

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. (Acts 9:23-25 NIV)

Saul was what we like to call a “hellfire and brimstone” preacher.  He was in your face so much that you, if you were Jewish, were ready to kill him.  By the time Saul had planted his first churches, though, his style had changed.  Not only did his style change, but his name had changed as well.

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. (1 Thessalonians 1:1 NIV)

How did he go from driving people to want to kill him to a place where people feel loved by him through “Grace and peace?”  I’m not sure about all the factors, but I am sure that one of those factors was a friend.  This friend entered the picture after Saul was run out of Damascus.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26-27 NIV)

Saul was not allowed in the Church at Jerusalem because they were afraid of him.  They weren’t afraid of Barnabas, though.  They trusted him.  In fact, his name was a nickname given to him.  We learned this earlier in Luke’s account.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"),… (Acts 4:36 NIV)

How about you?  Do you have a nickname?  Would your nickname be “child of encouragement?”  Are you an encourager?